“Daniel, our boss is packing up his materials.”
“But the job’s not finished,” I protested.
“I asked him this very question. He told me that if I want to stay, I can have his job. But he’s going home to his family.”
“Are you going to take his job?” I asked Jon.
“No. I’m leaving, going to the city.”
“Stay. I’ll take his job, and we’ll go to the city in style,” I promised.
I regret those words. Jon won’t say it, but he stayed because of me. I got us killed.
Sally shivered. She set the book down and put her rolls into the oven. She let some of the heat of the oven wrap around her. She closed the door and started some bacon frying. She was pulled to the book but knew her job was to feed the men, and she could hear them stirring. Daniel’s story would have to wait.
Faye appeared next to Sally.
Sally jumped, and it took a few moments for her heart to resume a regular beat. “Faye, can you walk into the room, clear your voice, or beat a gong? I’m lucky I didn’t wet myself.”
Faye looked apologetic. “I’m sorry. I came to ask how you’re getting on with the story?”
“I just put it down to work on breakfast,” Sally said. “Would you like me to tell you what I’ve found out so far?”
“Please,” Faye said.
Sally told the story as she put together her breakfast meats and pulled the hot rolls from the oven. “Part of me is afraid to read on. But part of me needs to know what happened to these heroes.”
“Heroes?” Faye asked, her face scrunched up. “How do you see these men as heroes?”
Sally turned and stared at Faye as she counted off her reasons on her hand. “They crossed the ocean to find work. They sent back wages, instead of drinking it like most would have. They didn’t cheat their employer, and even though it cost them, they finished the job.”
“Seems to me, for a military person, you have unusual qualifiers for heroic deeds.”
“Faye, the heroes among us may not always be the ones running into the fray, carrying people down from burning buildings, and putting themselves between a bullet and their loved ones. They are the ones who wait, the ones who care for others, and the ones who complete the job instead of leaving the mess for someone else.”
Cid stood in the doorway. He had started listening to Sally the moment his ears could pick up her voice.
Faye turned and nodded. “I suppose he’s your hero.”
“No, Faye, she’s mine,” Cid said.
Faye shook her head and disappeared.
“What was all that about?”
“I think she’s disappointed I didn’t finish Daniel’s tale yet.”
“Patience isn’t her strong suit.” Cid walked over and drew Sally into his arms. He kissed her. “That’s because I missed you and not for the amazing aromas coming from this kitchen.”
Sally laughed.
“I have good news,” Cid said.
“Please tell.”
“Alan broke the news to Kiki this morning, and she agreed to stay away as long as we complete this job, safely. She has accepted she had been possessed and is working hard in the library to gather as much information as she can so we can deal intelligently with the Atwaters.”
“Good. I didn’t need her sneaking up on us. I had visions of her cracking the safe and letting that demon loose.”
“You should write lurid fiction,” Cid said.
“Maybe I will,” Sally said. “After I finish with the cookbook I’ve been working on.”
Cid took a step back. “I had no idea.”
Sally smiled. “The working title is Basic Grub.”
“I’d say put your energy into changing the working title.”
Sally chuckled. “I’m sure once I firm up what recipes of mine will make the cut, I will have an idea what theme the book will have.”
“I love cookbooks, especially ones with pictures in them. Mia calls my collection food porn.”
“Well, Mr. Garrett, I had no idea…” Sally said, affecting a deep southern accent. “My foster mother warned me about men like you. ‘Sally dear,’ she’d say, ‘if the man only wants you for your cooking, then you’ll die of dishpan hands.’”
“Cruel but true,” Cid said.
Sally snapped a dishtowel Cid’s way. “Get out of here so I can get this on the table and get back to my book.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
~
Wayne finished his coffee and stood up. He walked over to the whiteboard and crossed out the completed projects. “I’d like us to continue work on the bathrooms, but we’re waiting on approval of the tubs. Bridgeton is supposed to be here on the weekend. He is expecting Kiki to be here. I will be filling in for her. I understand that is allowed per the contract. Basically, I think we should use this time to complete the modernization of the kitchen. Renew the faded and cracked woods of the butler’s pantry and the main dining room. We are all within a yelp of each other, so I don’t see any problem with splitting up. Jesse, draw up plans for the quickest way of sealing off that basement ceiling. We’ll all give you a hand once you’re ready to do so. The only thing we should leave open is the access to the plumbing from the second floor. Are there any questions?”
Pete raised his hand, an old habit from his school days.
“Yes?”
“I have a question for Cid.”
Cid looked at Wayne. Wayne nodded his assent.
“What’s your question?” Cid asked Pete.
“If those monsters downstairs have been lying over their graves gaining power and there is nothing draining them, what happens when they get loose?”
“What do you think happens?” Cid asked.
“Nothing good.”
“So
